Gas prices topped $3.40 in Oregon last week, and that's putting a big squeeze on household budgets. But there may be some relief in sight as Congress considers higher fuel efficiency standards, which would be the first improvement since 1975. Corky Senical with NeighborImpact in Redmond comments it's particularly hard when high housing costs force people to live miles from where they work.
"People can't afford the transportation costs to get from where they can afford to live to where they have to go to work."
Erin Anderson with the Oregon office of the National Environmental Trust says Oregon residents are looking to Washington, D.C., for answers.
"Unfortunately, our fuel efficiency standards are way out of date. It would be very easy without compromising safety or performance to raise those standards. In doing so, we would help consumers save a lot of money."
Congress is considering requiring automakers to achieve a fleet average of 35 miles-per-gallon in 10 years.
